Assembly and the operating method for exercise amount measuring

ABSTRACT

An assembly for measuring an exercise amount corresponding to a user&#39;s motion is provided. The assembly includes mounting kits and a unit for measuring an exercise amount. The unit is selectively fixed to one of the mounting kits that are placed on designated body portions of the user to measure an exercise amount corresponding to a motion of the user by applying an algorithm corresponding to the selected mounting kit. The assembly makes accurate measurement of an exercise amount possible by detecting various mounting locations of the unit mounted on a user and automatically applies an algorithm optimized for different locations.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of the earlier data, under 35 U.S.C. §119, to that patent application, entitled ASSEMBLY AND OPERATING METHOD FOR EXERCISE AMOUNT MEASURING, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 16, 2009 and afforded serial No. 10-2009-0022144, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety, herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of exercise and more particularly, to an assembly and operating method for accurately determining an amount or exercise.

2. Description of the Related Art

In response to interesting of health, terminals corresponding to the same are being manufactured in various different forms. For example, a pedometer is one of apparatus for measuring an exercise amount performed by a person during a walking activity or exercise. The pedometer counts the number of steps taken and displays an exercise effect proportional to the number of counted steps. For example, the exercise effect could be the distance walked, when the size of each step is know. Or the exercise effect could be an average rate of walking when the count of steps, the size of the steps and the time duration are known. The pedometer may be classified into a mechanical pedometer and an electronic pedometer.

The mechanical pedometer operates using a principle of detecting an internal pendulum that vibrates up and down as the person's steps generate a vertical vibration. The mechanical pedometer may not measure the number of steps accurately in a pocket and on a necklace where vertical vibration may be not transferred accurately. In addition, in the case where the pedometer is not attached vertically with respect to the ground o the internal pendulum does not vibrate properly and measurement is not properly made.

The electronic pedometer is an apparatus using a sensor such as an acceleration sensor, a vibration sensor, and the like, and is widely used. Furthermore, a portable terminal such as a cellular phone having a pedometer function using the above sensor is also widely used. The sensor obtains motion information from the user's motion. The electronic pedometer performs an algorithm determining whether to count a value by using the motion information provided from the sensor. For example, the pedometer using the acceleration sensor determines whether to count by measuring acceleration of two axes or three axes, comparing a change value of the measured acceleration with a predetermined value, and analyzing the change. However, since a value of acceleration in each axis changes remarkably depending on a mounting method in the pedometer using the acceleration sensor, an optimized algorithm has been applied on the assumption that a user mounts the conventional pedometer in a specific position and in a specific direction. That is, since the conventional pedometer using various sensors applies one algorithm optimized for a specific mounting method, the number of steps may not be accurately counted when a user uses unexpected mounting method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide an assembly and operating method to accurately determine effective motion and count thereof to measure an exercise amount.

An exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide an assembly and operating method for exercise amount measurement by selectively applying motion information obtained depending on a mounting position and direction of an exercise amount measurement unit mounted on a body of a user to an optimized algorithm.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide an assembly and operating method for measuring an exercise amount by individually applying an algorithm optimized depending on each mounting kit, attachable to a relevant body portion, for mounting a unit which measures an exercise amount on a body.

In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, an assembly and operation method for measuring an exercise amount is provided. The assembly includes mounting kits placed on at least one designated body portion of a user, and a unit fixed to the selected mounting kit to measure an exercise amount corresponding to a motion by applying an algorithm corresponding to the selected mounting kit.

In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for measuring an exercise amount is provided. The apparatus includes a motion detector for outputting motion information, and a controller for selecting and performing an algorithm to determine an exercise amount from the outputted motion information.

In accordance with still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit selectively fixed to one of mounting kits designed for designated body portions of a user to measure an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion is provided. The method includes determining whether a selectively fixed mounting kit exists, and when the selectively fixed mounting kit does not exist, measuring an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion by applying an algorithm corresponding to the user's selection, and when the selectively fixed mounting kit does exist, measuring an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion by automatically applying an algorithm corresponding to the relevant mounting kit

In accordance with further another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit selectively fixed to a mounting kit placed on a designated body portion of a user to measure an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion is provided. The method includes detecting a fixed mounting kit position, obtaining motion information depending on a user's motion, and measuring an exercise amount by applying the obtained motion information to an algorithm corresponding to the fixed mounting kit position.

In accordance with still further another exemplary aspect of the present invention, an exercise measurement apparatus comprising a process in communication with a memory is provided. The memory includes code which when executed by the processor causes the following process. The process includes receiving a signal from at least one sensor, the signal being associated with a location of an exercise measuring unit, counting a movement of the exercise measuring unit, and selecting an algorithm for converting the movement of the exercise measuring unit into an exercise measurement.

Other exemplary aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention in more detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detail description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a illustrates a pedometer in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a pedometer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate sensing constructions to distinguish each mounting kit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit for measuring an exercise amount according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, is provided to assist a person of ordinary skill in the art with a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these details are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness so as not to obscure appreciation of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill with such well-known functions and constructions.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” typically includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” typically means that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those skilled in the art, and may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a unit for measuring an amount of exercise, including a portable terminal having a pedometer function. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a technique to accurately determine an amount of exercise by applying an algorithm optimized depending on how the unit is attached to a relevant body position.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a pedometer in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the pedometer 10 may be fixed to a mounting kit 20 attachable to a relevant body portion of a user to measure an exercise amount of the user. There are various mounting kits 20 depending on a body portion on which the mounting kits are to be mounted. For example, the mounting kit 20 may have a type mounted on an arm, a type mounted on a waist (not shown), or a type hung on a neck (not shown). More particularly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pedometer 10 detects the particular mounting kit 20 mounted on the relevant body portion to selectively perform an exercise measurement algorithm corresponding to the relevant body portion

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a pedometer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, as described above, the pedometer 10 detects that the pedometer 10 is mounted on the mounting kit 20 attached on a relevant body portion, and performs an exercise amount measurement algorithm (referred to as just an ‘algorithm’ hereinafter) corresponding to the relevant body portion. The pedometer 10 may include a controller 11, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, a storing unit 14, a motion detector 15, and a mounting kit selector 16.

The controller 11 controls an overall operation of the pedometer 10.

The input unit 12 may output a signal regarding user information (e.g., weight, height, step size, etc.), an operation mode, a pedometer reset, pedometer position change, a motion record view, and the like to the controller 11.

The display unit 13 displays an exercise amount, control information, and the like under control of the controller 11.

The storing unit 14 stores parameters for controlling the pedometer 10 and measured exercise amount information under control of the controller 11. The storing unit 14 may be included in the controller 11.

The motion detector 15 obtains motion information of a user and provides the obtained information to the controller 11. The controller 11 receiving the motion information from the motion detector 15 applies a relevant algorithm to determine whether to increase a counter value of the pedometer 10. As described later, the algorithm regarding a counter value of the pedometer 10 is determined according to a detection signal of the mounting kit selector 16. The motion information may be motion mechanics-related variables such as acceleration, velocity, displacement, a rotational angle, and the like measured by various sensors.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the motion detector 15 may use an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor receives power for a set time under control of the controller 11, and measures an exercise amount to generate acceleration information when power is supplied. That is, the acceleration sensor receives power to measure acceleration information depending on a motion of the pedometer, and outputs the measured acceleration information to the controller 11. The acceleration sensor is a three-dimensional (3-D) acceleration sensor, and generates 3-D acceleration information in the X, Y, and Z axes. The acceleration sensor may determine an acceleration, a velocity, and a displacement of an object through 3-D acceleration information, and may determine movements of the object through this information. The acceleration information is calculated using sum of an acceleration component of gravity and a relative acceleration component generated by movement of an object. The acceleration component of gravity provides a degree at which an object is inclined with respect to the ground, and is a low frequency component. The relative acceleration component is generated by movement of an object. Generally, an acceleration component generated by movement of an object corresponds to a high frequency component. Therefore, two acceleration components can be separated through frequency analysis, and the separated two components provide a rotational angle of an object and motion direction information of the object.

The mounting kit selector 16 provides a signal to discriminate among different mounting kits on which the pedometer is to be mounted to the controller 11 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, the pedometer 10 includes Hall Integrated Circuits (IC) disposed on different positions. Each mounting kit comprises a magnet corresponding to the Hall ICs thereon. When one of Hall ICs of the pedometer 10 detects a magnetic force, the controller 11 may recognize that the pedometer has been mounted with a corresponding kit. Furthermore, the controller 11 selects an algorithm to be applied to the motion information provided from the motion detector 15 depending on a Hall IC from which magnetic force has been detected, and controls to operation of the selected algorithm. That is, when a user mounts the pedometer on his arm, waist, etc. using a relevant mounting kit, the controller 11 applies motion information from the motion detector 15 to an algorithm optimized for each mounting kit to determine whether to increase a counter value. Furthermore, the controller 11 receives a signal from a relevant Hall IC, and informs the user that the relevant mounting kit has been properly mounted through the display unit 13.

When the pedometer 10 is not mounted on the mounting kit 20, that is, when there is no signal detected from the Hall IC, the controller 11 may not perform an exercise amount measurement operation, or may apply a conventional algorithm according to the user's selection.

When the pedometer is mounted on a body portion not supported by the mounting kit and measures an exercise amount, the controller 11 may specify a mounting location in a menu, and apply an algorithm according to the user's selection. For example, even at various mounting locations, such as a pocket into which the pedometer is inserted, or hand holding the pedometer, and the like, a relevant algorithm for measuring an exercise amount may be applied.

Not limited thereto, the mounting kit selector 16 may include a plurality of different sensors for detecting an external stimulus at different locations, that may be used to discriminate a currently fixed mounting kit position according to each signal generated from each sensor.

Furthermore, the mounting kit selector 16 may include a plurality of switches connecting an electrical circuit using external pressurizing at different locations, that may be used to discriminate a currently fixed mounting kit according to an operation of a switch formed on a relevant location. Here, the mounting kits include pressurizing protrusions corresponding to the switches at locations that can be discriminated from one another.

Furthermore, the mounting kit selector 16 may include a plurality of sensors for detecting an external stimulus, and discriminate a currently fixed mounting kit according to a size of a signal generated from the sensor. For example, the sensor may be a pressure sensor for outputting a signal proportional to an applied pressure, and each mounting kit may include pressurizing protrusions of different heights for pressurizing the pressure sensor.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate sensing constructions to distinguish each mounting kit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention when an excise measurement unit is coupled with a mounting kit attachable to body of user.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the pedometer 10 includes a plurality of Hall ICs 17 on a plane seated on the mounting kit 20. The mounting kits 20 have a magnet 27 corresponding to the Hall IC at a specific location to distinguish each mounting kit. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, a magnet that can be detected by the Hall IC 17 of the pedometer 10 is provided for each mounting kit so that the pedometer 10 can determine a location of the pedometer and automatically perform a relevant algorithm for each mounting kit in order to measure an exercise amount. For example, FIG. 3A may represent an arm mounted position (see FIG. 1), FIG. 3B may represent a waist mounted position and FIG. 3C may represent an ankle mounted position.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit for measuring an exercise amount according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the pedometer 10 performs an exercise amount measurement mode in step 401.

The pedometer 10 determines whether a selectively fixed mounting kit exists in step 402. When the fixed mounting kit exists, the pedometer 10 automatically applies an algorithm corresponding to the relevant position of the mounting kit and measures an exercise amount corresponding to a user's motion in step 403. In addition, when the mounting kit does not exist, the pedometer 10 applies an algorithm corresponding to the user's selection and measures an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion in step 404. Thus, is the mounting kit is determined is not detected or intentionally not used by the user, an amount of exercise may be determined by an appropriate selection by the user.

Consequently, an assembly and operating method for an exercise amount measurement assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention make accurate measurements of an amount of exercise possible by detecting various mounting locations of the measuring unit mounted on the user and automatically applies an algorithm optimized for the determined location.

The above-described methods according to the present invention can be realized in hardware or as software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or downloaded over a network, so that the methods described herein can be executed by such software using a general purpose computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods described herein. As would be recognized by those skilled in the art, when a general purpose computer is loaded with, or accesses, software or code for implementing the processing shown herein, the general purpose computer is transformed into a special purpose computer that may at least perform the processing shown herein.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of invention but by the appended claims, and all difference within the scope will be construced as being included in present invention. 

1. An assembly for measuring an exercise amount, the assembly comprising: a mounting kit placed on at least one designated body portion of a user; and a unit selectively fixed to one of the mounting kits to measure an exercise amount corresponding to a motion by applying an algorithm corresponding to the body portion on to which the mounting kit is placed.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the unit comprises: a motion detector for outputting motion information of the user; a mounting kit selector for outputting a signal for determining position of the mounting kit; a controller for applying a relevant algorithm corresponding to a signal from the mounting kit selector to the motion information provided from the motion detector to measure an exercise amount; and a display unit for displaying the measured exercise amount.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the motion detector comprises an acceleration sensor for generating motion information from acceleration information corresponding to the user's movement.
 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting kit selector comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting external stimulus at different locations, and discriminates a currently fixed mounting kit according to a signal generated from a relevant sensor.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the sensors comprise a magnetic sensor formed at locations that are discriminated from one another for detecting magnetic force.
 6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting kit selector comprises a plurality of switches for connecting an electrical circuit using external pressurizing at different locations, and when a switch formed at a relevant location is connected, the mounting kit selector determines a position of a mounting kit.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting kits comprise protrusions provided at locations that are discriminated from one another corresponding to the switches and.
 8. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting kit selector comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting an external stimulus, and determines a position of the mounting kit according to a size of a signal generated from the sensor.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensors comprise a pressure sensor for outputting a signal proportional to an applied pressure, wherein the sensors comprise pressurizing protrusions of different heights for pressurizing the corresponding pressure sensor.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein when the mounting kit is not used or the unit is mounted on a body portion that is not supported by the mounting kit to measure an exercise amount, the unit allows the user to selectively apply an algorithm.
 11. An apparatus for measuring an exercise amount, the apparatus comprising: a motion detector for outputting motion information; a controller for selecting and performing an algorithm to determine an exercise amount from the outputted motion information based on the location of the motion detector.
 12. A method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit fixed to a mounting kit attached to a designated body portion of a user, the unit measuring an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion, the method comprising: determining whether a known mounting kit exists; when the selectively fixed mounting kit does not exist, measuring an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion by applying an algorithm corresponding to the user's selection; and when the selectively fixed mounting kit exists, measuring an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion by applying an algorithm corresponding to the position of the mounting kit.
 13. A method for measuring an exercise amount in a unit fixed a mounting kit placed on a designated body portion of a user to measure an exercise amount corresponding to the user's motion, the method comprising: detecting a location of the mounting kit; obtaining motion information depending on a user's motion; and measuring an exercise amount by applying the obtained motion information to a algorithm corresponding to the location of the detected mounting kit.
 14. An exercise measurement apparatus comprising; a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code which when executed by the processor causes the process to: receive a signal from at least one sensor, the signal being associated with a location of an exercise measuring unit; count a movement of the exercise measuring unit; select an algorithm for converting the movement of the exercise measuring unit into an exercise measurement.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: input means for inputting an algorithm selection.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a display for displaying the exercise measurement.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensors are located in a mounting device, wherein the sensors are associated with different locations of the exercise measuring unit.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensors are associated with switches for connecting an electric circuit associated with different location of the exercise measuring unit. 